Phoenix seems unsettled on a bench rotation other than Bismack Biyombo and Okogie, but Denver is rolling Jeff Green, rookie Christian Braun and Brown. Deandre Ayton is on Twitter at DeandreAyton. Game Recap: Suns eclipsed by hot Nuggets, fall 125-107. Ayton currently ranks 12th in the NBA in total rebounding with 10.7 per game. Here's why Kevin Durant, Devin Booker will lead Phoenix Suns past The anchor of the defense mirrors the responsibilities of a middle linebacker: call out what you see and direct your resources towards your teams weaknesses. On-Off. By circumstance, this allows the screener to run free and make decisions in the open floor. Following the Phoenix Suns' shocking postseason exit, all eyes are now on Deandre Ayton's free agency. He was one of five Suns players to score in double figures including a team-high 23 points from. Being that anchor and aggressor. You want to talk about motor, man. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. You get to push guys around and you get to jump over people. 2: Booker's defense could face healthy Murray. From there, it's on that player to either continue dribbling toward the rim, take a midrange jumper, or make a pass to an open teammate. Lets face it. He is continuing to learn, to read what the opposition is doing, and to execute what he sees. The NBA is a highlight driven league. The 351st-ranked defense last season, North Carolina A&T, allowed 1.23 points per possession. I hit my middies so theyre pressing up. A play during the Suns' 125-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 didn't help his cause in quieting his critics. Averaging 14.8 points on 54.2% shooting and 11.3 rebounds in this series, Ayton has posted a double-double in the last three games of this series, all won by the Suns. Deandre's commitment to being an anchor on defense has been a primary contributing factor to the Suns' success early on this year. Maybe he loves basketball so much he cant help to just watch pic.twitter.com/71Oi4Mr3qj, Three Level Scorer (@3LevelScorer) April 30, 2023. Interpreted as: ayton defense rating this regular season StatMuse has season-level data for defensive rating going back to the 1973-74 season. Durant has only played in eight regular season games and five postseason games with his new squad. Allowing the opposition to have extra possessions isnt just frustrating, its darn near irresponsible. Statistical model by Nate Silver. 4/30 Suns center Deandre Ayton is confident that Phoenix will rebound after its 125-107 blowout loss to the higher-seeded Nuggets in Game 1 of their second-round matchup, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Like Denver with Porter Jr., Durant will be in free safety mode. NBA player rankings: Top 100 NBA players as of 2023 playoffs This would leave Ayton completely open once he rolled to the rim. Keeping its non-Joki small-ball units on the floor as much as possible is also in Denver's best interest. Can Denver get away with MPJ cheating off Craig and Okogie in the corners to clog up the painted area? Already a member? Your default site has been set for 7 days, Deandre Ayton's evolution steals spotlight in Suns statement win in Miami, career-high offensive rating and defensive rating. But Im of the mind that effectively guarding shots close to the rim is probably the most valuable defensive contribution any NBA center can provide, even if they are capable of playing a larger role too. It paid off handsomely. Defense and Rebounding. Just give them the space and they got it. Offensively, thats just not who he is. "In an ideal world, I actually want even more," Suns head coach Monty Williams said postgame on Ayton. The goal was to get the ball out of Durant and Booker's hands even if that meant conceding three-pointers to Craig and Okogie. Maybe. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-787-1240. He recorded a 105 defensive rating on the year, and he does a solid job of protecting the rim. Phoenix's defensive matchups are a little more interesting. Again, thats not a meaningless difference. Monday, May 1st vs The pick and roll. You have to possess the ability to make quick decisions in transition. He saves that intensity and focus for defensive side of the ball. The Suns have absolutely destroyed drop coverage in the postseason, which is a style of pick-and-roll defense in which the big man hangs back close to the rim instead of near the screen. Deandre Ayton Def Rating Career | StatMuse The more he focuses on excelling, the better he will be. A daily roundup of Phoenix Suns news from Bright Side of the Sun, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Monty and the Suns need to realize that Shamet aint it. The "short roll" is when a player screens and then receives a pass halfway to the basket. Follow him on Twitter@Jeremy_Cluff. Deandre Ayton. Phoenix Suns begin their Western Conference semifinals series Saturday at Denver in an 1-4 matchup. This victory, in the first contest of a four-game road trip, helps the Suns win their third in a row after a couple of bumps in the road since the All-Star break with home losses to the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Advantage: Suns. Deandre Ayton /// Stats /// Cleaning the Glass The results from there were pretty mixed. Its worth the price of admissionif we were permitted to attend. The third-year center continues to develop into an interior force. Not to mention the fact that his performance came against an All-Star caliber forward/center in Bam Adebayo. His 76 wingspan is a hinderance to any ball-handler who makes their way towards the basket. Many Phoenix Suns fans have been critical of Deandre Ayton's effort and "heart" on the court through the years. The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs. It is no easy task keeping him from the basketball. All #1 picks who have 0x all star: Deandre Ayton, Markelle Fultz, Anthony Bennett, Greg Oden, Andrea Bargnani, Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi, Joe Smith (until 1990 , btw didnt include Ant and Cade for obvious reasons) Doing anything to get a rebound and thats the type of player I am. At other points, Phoenix's switching defense would present them with disadvantageous matchups. Utilizing Joki as the drop defender is just asking for a thunderstorm of midrange buckets. Playing in the Denver altitude is always an issue for visiting teams. Advanced Game Log The 6'11" center stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. A Better Way To Evaluate NBA Defense | FiveThirtyEight Deandre Ayton has a defensive rating of 110.9 this season. 5 players Indiana Pacers should consider in free agency: Is Deandre They stress defense and scoring in transition. Deandre Ayton averages 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. This was Deandre Ayton's last defensive possession of the game that appeared to prompt Monty to sub him out for the final time. SERIES PREVIEW: #1 NUGGETS VS. #4 SUNS | NBA.com The likes of Luka, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Zion have all switched into Ayton at some point this year. See More at HoopsRumors Deandre Ayton Overview Game Logs Game-by-game stat line for the player 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Deandre Edoneille Ayton He scored 46 versus the Suns in the 2018-19 season and averaged 28.3 in four games against them in 2019-20 season. Deandre Ayton's Biggest Weakness Was on Full Display Against Buffalo The NBA's next big unicorn prospect has struggled with defense since high school, and it became a full-blown nightmare in. They're also 5th in points allowed at 105 PPG and 6th in defensive rating at 109.6. Deandre Ayton Needs To Star In His Role - RealGM On NBA 2K23, Kevin Durant is Phoenix Suns' highest rated player, followed by Devin Booker in second place, and Chris Paul in third. Deandre Ayton 7'1" big 24.7 years old Profile Positions On/Off Stats Game Logs Lineups Trends Team Efficiency and Four Factors The rest of this page is for subscribers only. Deandre Ayton Defense Stats NBA Stats | FOX Sports Thats a pretty significant difference from last year in both how often hes defending these shots and his success in keeping them from going on. Our ratings, updated daily, use play-by-play and player-tracking data to calculate each player's individual plus-minus measurements and wins above replacement, which accounts for playing time. inNassau,Bahamas He consistently holds opponents to well below their normal field goal percentage (he's one of the best big men in the league by this measure). Deandre Ayton has a defensive rating of 111.0 this season. Defensive rating: Suns 116.3 (12th), Nuggets 109.6 (6th). They change it up on me, so I change it up on them, Ayton said after Game 4, about working out of the short roll. Ayton is averaging 17.0 points and 11.1 rebounds in 124 starts this season. Paul, Booker, and Durant are all lethal midrange scorers and utilize specific moves like the "snake dribble" to find windows of opportunity against dropping big men. He is averaging 13.7 per this season after grabbing 13.5 per game last season. We get it. Players often gain reputations as good or bad defenders based mainly on reputation around the league or the always-reliable eye test.. Here is what I have found. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton on Friday night at the NBA summer league in Las . Additional contributions by Neil Paine. There may come a time when Denver needs to make small changes to its rotation. The fact that Ayton isn't some "nobody" rotational Center but instead a former #1 pick who stands 7'1 250 and averages a double double for his career is going to bring a ton of scrutiny and slander HIS WAY. Phoenix Suns: What is wrong with Deandre Ayton? But Michael Malone has the opportunity to completely swing the series in Denver's favor. No team has cleaned the glass better than Denver in the postseason, who outrebounded the Timberwolves in four of their five total games. And everybody just trusting me to be that guy protecting the paint.. Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, Draft: Yet despite its occasional clunkiness, the Suns are scoring the second-most halfcourt points per 100 possessions in the postseason, a reflection of the baseline level of absurd offensive talent on the roster. Deandre Ayton: Suns Defensive Anchor - Bright Side Of The Sun . Its too early to say with any confidence that Ayton isnt performing up to his previous efforts on defense. Nope, I run on Tesla battery. So far this season, Ayton is defending 4.7 such shots per game and has a defended field goal percentage of 64.6, which is almost dead-on with the 64.7 season average for those shooters. They started off in the drop. Spread: Suns +2.5 . Nikola Joki Deandre Ayton Aaron Gordon . We hear from him, too. What? Here's why Kevin Durant, Devin Booker will lead Phoenix Suns past If it reaches a Game 7 in Denver, Phoenix will be in trouble, but it wont. The team may be undersized at times but they still are tenacious on the glass. by John Wilmes. Room for growth exists, however, as his adjusted box out rate is in the 61st percentile. Hes been able to do that. But lets look at Ayton last season. LOS ANGELES Deandre Ayton has been the MVP of the Western Conference Finals. Ayton's averaging 16 points on 53 percent from the field to go with 11.8 rebounds in the postseason. Ayton, per B-Ball Index, is in the 92nd percentile relative to his position in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, good for an A rating. That's not a ton of dress rehearsal for the revamped Suns, who now head into battle against a Denver team with years of continuity. Those highlights are discussed around the proverbial water cooler, not the next day at work, but as they are happening. Try to play hard.. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) defends in the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Dec. 25, 2022. Clippers big Ivica Zubac had 11 rebounds in the first half, 15 for the game. Have no fear, Mikal, as DA is there. The Suns team rebounding this season, with tap outs and hustle, has been impressive to watch. Again, a different game. Jimmy Butler Jimmy Butler's 2021-2022 defensive statistics are similar to Draymond Green's; they aren't great. "He's notone-dimensional. The Portland Trail Blazers aren't serious contenders for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton but may be eyeing Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort in a draft-pick trade. The Pick: Deandre Ayton Over 10.5 Rebounds (-137) -- I've faded Deandre Ayton's rebounds prop in the past, but you simply can't argue with the results of late. Two days and a conversation with Williams later, Ayton was more upbeat after Mondays practice about how hes impacted the series going into Tuesdays Game 5 at Footprint Center. Time and again Ayton has displayed the capacity to force smaller guards into shots theyd rather not take. In the team's win in Miami, a statement victory that helped the Suns get back on track, he contributed across the board with 17 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. A daily roundup of Phoenix Suns news from Bright Side of the Sun, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Monty and the Suns need to realize that Shamet aint it. Deandre Ayton on Suns struggles: Teams we see on film aren't the teams Deandre Ayton vows Phoenix Suns will be 'completely different' in Game More NBA:Player projectionsOur 2022-23 NBA predictionsBuild your own team. He has a total of 15 Badges. Yeah, me neither. Denver and Phoenix are looked at by most as the two favorites to make the NBA Finals from the Western Conference. An increase in rangy athleticism could be on the menu for Denver to throw at Durant and Booker. Home Current Teams Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton For the Suns to take down the top-seeded Nuggets in their second-round series, they'll need Ayton to narrow his role - then thrive in it. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Booker carryover: Next to Miamis Jimmy Butler, Booker has been the best player in the playoffs so far. Any center worth his weight in Chipotle burritos should have the ability to box out on the defensive end. The Suns have looked just as comfortable finding the open man against zone defenses in the postseason. Ayton Defense Rating | StatMuse You're doing something right when one of the best offensive players of all-time ends up with a completely uncontested shot. And while some fans will (and arguably should) continue to ask more domination from Dominayton, Im more interested in his defense at the moment. It's abundantly clear to anyone who has seen Deandre Ayton perform that he is a high-level NBA prospect. DeAndre Ayton Trade Value | Should I Trade DeAndre Ayton - FantasySP Then in the fourth quarter, Ayton set a pindown screen (which is an off-ball screen where the screener faces the baseline) for Durant, who caught the pass and rose up at the free-throw line for the bucket. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. It'll be interesting to see if Denver adopts a similar strategy. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. I think he just hears it from a little bit of everybody, Booker said. DEN And if you think Zubac appears comfortable posting up against smaller Suns defenders, boy, wait until you see how Nikola Joki looks in that setting. His defensive IQ continues to grow and with it comes the intelligence on how to effectively stop the fast break. Some other big men known for great defense, like Gobert and Joel Embiid, are also appearing to have less impressive performances on that end so far this season. The Nuggets might need additional ball handling. Chris Paul is a feisty defender but is likely too small to tangle with Murray. After defending Anthony Edwards in Round 1, KCP will get another crack at an explosive scorer at the shooting guard position. That didnt go over well with his teammates. But two of those matchups occurred before Phoenix acquired Durant. Phoenix's timing can also be off, resulting in flailing turnovers. Whether Ayton likes it or not, the Suns need his motor to be running hotter from here on out. The relationship between Ayton and the Suns has reportedly soured . 6. The 24-year-old scoffed at the notion . Might as well have your BR notifications on. How the Suns lost Game 1, and what that means for the rest of the series, The odds are now well against the Phoenix Suns in this series, though a few tweaks and better effort could make a world of difference, Center of the Sun: The Rubio mentality, next-level Booker, and respect. Initially he is beat by Conley as he opts to go left. NBA 2K23 UPDATED PLAYER RATINGS 02.17. He recently said that he anchors Phoenix on both offense and defense. He can guard multiple positions due to his lateral quickness and length. Right, Born: Its the playoffs. Will Porter Jr. be used as a secondary defender against Booker and Durant in the pick-and-roll or in the post? But Jokic, whom he was responsible for guarding for a lot of the night, had 24 points and 19 rebounds in the game. Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns | NBA.com And its getting ugly. 2022-2023 Game Log Booker, Paul, and Durant are all too experienced and too talented to see one style of defense over and over and over. Overall, Ayton this season is defending 13.9 shots per game and holding opponents to 48% shooting: 1.1% below where they would expect to be. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Whether the Suns go deep into the luxury tax for Ayton to keep their core together long-term is one of the bigger storylines of the 2022 offseason. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Ayton has had to adjust in this series to facing Zubac and backup Clippers big Mason Plumlee one minute and working against Ty Lues small lineup the next. Denver has kicked things into high gear in the postseason and ranks fifth in defensive rating after finishing just 17th during the regular season. 116 career games means technically he is in year 2 of development No matter which side of the Deandre Ayton Draft Debate you fall on, respect must be garnered for the efforts he has put forth on the defensive end thus far this year. Twice in the first half, Phoenix set screens at the elbow for Durant to curl off and dribble into midrange jumpers. So Im putting the ball on the ground and trying to see what I can get out of it.. He is shooting a career-high 64.7 percent from the field and his per-36 average of 20.7 points is a career-best as well. When we get punched in the mouth, what do we do? Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets: Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds (4 Yet time and again, although he has proven to be an efficient scorer (currently 58% FG%), his finesse approach to his offensive game does not satisfy the masses. Aytons athleticism is vital to his ability to defend the transition. Nuggets wing Bruce Brown is probably the best bench player of both teams. Like every player in the Association, there are plays in which Aytons rotations are passive, where his hustle is muted, and he is unwilling to leave his man. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. The Suns, currently with the third-best defensive rating league, believe they can get even better defensively and Ayton has a huge role to play in that. Deandre Ayton. Eligibility restrictions apply. Guys will bump into each other in scripted actions due to a lack of familiarity. Their 21-5 streak, after stumbling to an 8-8 start, is the best record in the league since late January. I love the playoffs, but the contact is a little bit different. He has a vertical approach to his defense; he jumps straight up and allows players to attempt to occupy his space. As a center you see plenty of these sets run right at you nightly.